Martha . . . . Really!!!!!!!!

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Yes, Martha has gone broody AGAIN!

This is the 3rd time this year since spring!

Poor frustrated Mama!

So I got out the Broody Breaker cage and started putting her in it this afternoon.

She wasn't happy.

It usually takes 2-3 days however, it was supposed to get really cold tonight so I covered up the nesting boxes in the coop and let her out of the cage to go into the coop.  She is not on the roost however, she's still nesting but on the floor of the coop in the shavings.

She'll go back in the cage tomorrow and stay there except for yard time.

I wish I could stick some baby chicks under her but cold weather is coming.  Maybe next spring if she keeps dong this.

Those darn hormones!  She just wants to be a mama hen.

(I guess I forgot to give her the sex talk about how babies are born!!)

Shirley

Preacher and the Kids

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We had some little visitors at the barn today.

My grandkids, Ava and Jack came with mom Linda to visit the horses.

Ava is 6 years old and is going to start taking riding lessons here in October.

First we groomed Echo and Preacher then I put a saddle on Preacher.   I intended on leading Ava around the arena on him but we didn't have a helmet to fit her so she got to just lead him around today.

Preacher was a 4-H horse before I got him 10 years ago and was used to kids.

It's funny how horses seem to know.  As soon as she took hold of the lead line, his head went down and he followed her wherever she walked.  So cute.

Afterwards, we took Preacher back to his barn.  Ava wanted to braid Echo's mane but she isn't tall enough even with my little stool so she braided Preacher's tail!

See how pretty!!

I can't wait till she starts her riding lessons.

Shirley

(Nanna)

Cool Your Chickens!

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Another unbearably hot, humid day.  It's 94 degrees out there.

Chickens pant when they get too hot.  This morning I wet down the garden in the yard and let them "free range" for awhile.  I noticed how they stayed in the shade of the big wet hostas and dug on the damp dirt and laid down in it.

Yesterday they got a big half of a cold watermelon.  They love that.

Today I gave them cold lettuce and a dish of frozen peas in ice water.

They always approach things so tentatively.

They're a hoot.

Martha asks, "What exactly is that?"

OK, then!

Dottie excused herself to go inside to the nesting box.  

Perhaps she's giving me a thank you gift!!

Shirley

A Little Reorganizing

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I spent this morning throwing old things out and reorganizing a few places.

I started with one of my medicine cabinets then went on to a cupboard under one bathroom sink and then the big job . . . my linen closet.

Here's proof!!!!

From this:

To this:

From this:

To this:

And from this:

To this:

It's amazing the junk you collect or the stuff you keep thinking you'll use!!

It all went in the garbage!

Shirley

Change of Scenery For The Chickens

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I moved the chickie's yard fence a little.  Mostly because I had to give my lawn mower guy more room in the back to get through an area.  I decided I'd put the fence around one of the little gardens that's by one of the big oak trees.  That way they can investigate and scratch around in there.

I may move it a little again tomorrow to include that little garden too.

When I was moving the fencing in the back, I noticed poor Mr Bunny is getting enveloped by all the ivy that's taken over back there.

Shirley

Garden Meatloaf

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I'm linking this post with Foodie Friday

http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

I had a taste for meatloaf but I wanted to use things from my garden.  

Here's the result.

I picked a couple onions, a tomato, a green pepper, a banana pepper, and some swiss chard.

Chopped it all up and added it to a pound of ground turkey.

I added an egg from my chickens, 1/2 C breadcrumbs and 1 Tbsp brown sugar plus S & P.

I made two small loaves in the pan topped with onion and brown sugar.

I poured some tomato sauce over the top and baked it at 350 degrees for a little over an hour.

I had it with mashed potatoes and creamed corn.  

Those are the two things I always have with meatloaf!

I could have added some chopped zucchini also but didn't think of it in time.

It was very tasty and it felt so healthy!!

For dessert, I had made some biscuits earlier and I had a wonderful strawberry shortcake.

Yummmm!

It's lucky I got my swiss chard yesterday when I made this because I went out to pick some more and the deer had gotten to it.  

Ate it all right down to the stalks.

Thank goodness they didn't eat all my little carrot tops!!

They're probably saving them for their friends the bunnies!!!

Shirley

Riding Echo Today

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It was 85 degrees, and yes it was humid.

But we rode today.

There's four of us that try to ride together on the quiet Sunday afternoons.

We've been at 3 and 4 barns together and have ridden together for quite a while.

Even though it's usually in the arena, it still counts!!!

Today it was just two of us.  William and I.

William is my friend for the past 10 years.  He is 91 years young now and still rides.  He's also learning carriage driving too!  He's owned 3 horses but just has Miss Blue now.  She's a fox trotter.

I rode Echo today.

 Well, Echo has an ear on me.

 Yes, you're a handsome boy.

 William is dismounting so I guess I will too; just too hot today.

William and Blue

 Mr Echo, you need a shave!!!!

 Shiny coat, great weight, happy horse.

Fed 4 times a day, great care, clean barn, and daily turnouts makes a healthy horse.

And Wow, what a beautiful butt!!!

Shirley

My horses are happily residing at:

Winfield Farm and Forge

http://winfieldfarm.com/farm.html

Also see my older post about the barn!

http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/2012/02/im-going-for-amenities.html